POEA: Qatar bans cigarettes

Don’t get burned; don’t bring cigarettes to Qatar, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) warned overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in an advisory.

“OFWs and other passengers entering the State of Qatar will be subject to legal liability (including imprisonment and fine) if found in possession of banned tobacco derivatives, equipment and other materials in relation to tobacco usage,” the POEA said, citing Qatar’s Law No. 10 of 2016 on the Control of Tobacco and its Derivatives.

Among the banned items are chewing tobacco in any form, electronic cigarette, electronic shisha, and any product similar to it or made in any form of tobacco, swaika (a substance from tobacco products that can be taken by absorption, chewing or inhalation), cigarette machines, as well as advertising, promotion, or sponsorship materials that seek to introduce any tobacco product.